Defending themselves, the couple told the court it had been their first opportunity to have a holiday after Mrs Walker underwent major surgery and their daughters Indianah, 10, and Katalinah, six, were having hospital treatment.

The higher cost of school holiday travel was also a factor, the pair told the court.

What do the guidelines actually say?

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The beaches are less crowded in term time

The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 said head teachers could grant leave of absence of up to 10 days for the purposes of a family holiday during term time in "special circumstances".

Head teachers could also grant extended leave for more than 10 days in "exceptional circumstances".

And the government said it had long recognised schools were experiencing problems with parents using this threshold as a right, rather than as a rough guide for a particular sort of situation.

Essex County Council said, because of the unauthorised absence, the girls' attendance in the Autumn term was no better than 82%.

The Walkers defended the girls' attendance record, and argued their absence record will improve this year.

The Walkers were told they had to pay the initial £240 fine imposed by the council.